It's good to know that Apple's audio engineering team continued to work on perfecting its iconic HomePod speaker, discontinued in March 2021. The new Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is now a powerful smart speaker that delivers next-level acoustics in the same iconic design of the first generation, packed with the technology that should have been available in the original, from Airplay 2 to Bluetooth 5.
The Apple HomePod now offers advanced computational audio to improve the listening experience, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks - as it should be expected, since this product is a natural extension for Apple Music subscribers, which have been enjoying Dolby Atmos Music tracks on AirPods exclusively (knowing that less than 0.1% actually have a full Dolby Atmos speaker array at home).
Like the HomePod mini already did, enhancing the "smart speaker" features, the (2nd generation) offers convenient new ways to manage everyday tasks and control the smart home, including already support for Matter-compatible peripherals and systems. Users can now create smart home automations using Siri, get notified when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in their home, and check temperature and humidity in a room — all hands-free.
"Leveraging our audio expertise and innovations, the new HomePod delivers rich, deep bass, natural mid-range, and clear, detailed highs," says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "With the popularity of HomePod mini, we’ve seen growing interest in even more powerful acoustics achievable in a larger HomePod. We’re thrilled to bring the next generation of HomePod to customers around the world."
The Same Design But Better
With basically the same seamless, acoustically transparent mesh fabric and a backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge, the new HomePod boasts a recognized design that complements any space. Same as before, the new HomePod is available in white and midnight, which is in fact a new color option, made with 100 percent recycled mesh fabric, with a color-matched woven power cable.
The HomePod design delivers incredible improved audio quality, using a custom-engineered 4-inch high-excursion woofer, with a powerful motor that drives the diaphragm a remarkable 20mm, built-in bass-EQ mic, and beamforming array of five tweeters around the base, all working together to achieve a powerful acoustic experience. The Apple S7 chip is combined with software and system-sensing technology to offer even more advanced computational audio that maximizes the full potential of its acoustic system for a groundbreaking listening experience.
With room sensing adaptive technology and four far-field microphones, the HomePod recognizes sound reflections from nearby surfaces to determine if it is against a wall or freestanding, and then adapts sound in real time. Precise directional control of its beamforming array of five tweeters separates and beams direct and ambient audio, immersing listeners in crystal-clear vocals and rich instrumentation.
Users can listen to a catalog of over 100 million songs with Apple Music, enjoy Spatial Audio with a single HomePod (if Amazon says it can, why not the HomePod?) or as a stereo pair (recommended), or create a captivating home theater experience with Apple TV 4K. With Siri, users can access a range of music knowledge, and search by artist, song, lyrics, decade, genre, mood, or activity.
Two or more HomePod (2nd generation) or HomePod mini speakers unlock a variety of powerful features. Using multiroom audio with AirPlay 2, users can simply say “Hey Siri,” or touch and hold the top of HomePod to play the same song on multiple HomePod speakers, play different songs on different HomePod speakers, or even use them as an intercom to broadcast messages to other rooms.
Users can also create a stereo pair with two HomePod speakers in the same space. In addition to separating the left and right channels, a stereo pair plays each channel in perfect harmony, creating a wider, more immersive soundstage than traditional stereo speakers for a truly standout listening experience.
Leveraging Ultra Wideband technology, users can hand off whatever they’re playing on iPhone — like a favorite song, podcast, or even a phone call — directly to a HomePod. To easily control what’s playing or receive personalized song and podcast recommendations, anyone in the home can bring an iPhone close to HomePod and suggestions will surface automatically. HomePod can also recognize up to six voices, so each member of the home can hear their personal playlists, ask for reminders, and set calendar events.
The new HomePod (2nd generation) easily pairs with Apple TV 4K for a powerful home theater experience, and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) support on Apple TV 4K enables users to make HomePod the audio system for all devices connected to the TV. Plus, with Siri on HomePod, users can control what’s playing on their Apple TV hands-free.
Find My on HomePod makes it possible for users to locate their Apple devices, like an iPhone, by playing a sound on the misplaced device. Using Siri, users can also ask for the location of friends or loved ones who share their location via the app. To easily control what’s playing or receive personalized song and podcast recommendations, anyone in the home can bring an iPhone close to HomePod and suggestions will surface automatically.
A Smart Home Essential
With Sound Recognition, HomePod can listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and send a notification directly to the user’s iPhone if a sound is identified. The new built-in temperature and humidity sensor can measure indoor environments, so users can create automations that close the blinds or turn on the fan automatically when a certain temperature is reached in a room.
By activating Siri, users can control a single device or create scenes like "Good Morning" that put multiple smart home accessories to work at the same time, or set up recurring automations hands-free like "Hey Siri, open the blinds every day at sunrise." A new confirmation tone indicates when a Siri request is made to control an accessory that may not visibly show a change, like a heater, or for accessories located in a different room. Ambient sounds — like ocean, forest, and rain — have also been remastered and are more integrated into the experience, enabling customers to add new sounds to scenes, automations, and alarms.
Users can also intuitively navigate, view, and organize accessories with the redesigned Home app, which offers new categories for climate, lights, and security, enables easy setup and control of the smart home, and includes a new multicamera view.
Matter launched in 2022, enabling smart home products to work across ecosystems while maintaining the highest levels of security. Apple is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which maintains the Matter standard, along with other manufacturers. HomePod (2nd generation) connects to and controls Matter-enabled accessories, and serves as an essential home hub, giving users access when away from home.
All smart home communications are always end-to-end encrypted so they can’t be read by Apple, including camera recordings with HomeKit Secure Video. When Siri is used, the audio of the request is not stored by default. These features give users peace of mind that their privacy is protected at home.
The new HomePod includes 100 percent recycled gold — a first for HomePod — in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the speaker magnet. HomePod meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency, and is mercury-, BFR-, PVC-, and beryllium-free. Redesigned packaging eliminates the outer plastic wrap, and 96 percent of the packaging is fiber-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal of completely removing plastic from all packaging by 2025.
The new HomePod is available to order online for $299 (US) and in the Apple Store app starting today, with availability beginning Friday, February 3, 2023.
www.apple.com
